Land surveying?

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Does anyone know anything about getting your property lines surveyed? The neighbor behind me is really nasty and I want is to put up a huge, huge fence between us.

I do have an existing survey, which we got when we bought our house, and although it looks very detailed and official, it clearly says that this survey is not to be used for putting up fences and permanent structures.

I have absolutely no idea what to look for when I talk to surveyors, and no idea of what a good price is. How much can this cost in the Northeast? I really only need one line shot--the back property line--since the side neighbors (aka the nice ones) already have fences that have been up for many years. Do I have to get the whole property surveyed to get that one line?

Thanks for any advice.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I used to be married to a land surveyor, but if you think I'm going to ask him.........no way!

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

I used to be married to a land surveyor, but if you think I'm going to ask him.........no way!

Listen, is he in northern NJ? I just won't tell him I know you!

No, seriously, don't you have any advice for me?

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Listen, is he in northern NJ? I just won't tell him I know you!

No, seriously, don't you have any advice for me?

No, sorry I really don't. When we were married he was working for the county, then went out on his own. He's located in California. I have no idea how to go about finding one, other than checking the yellow pages, or how much they would charge. Shouldn't you be able to get information on your property lines from the city or county?

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

No, sorry I really don't. When we were married he was working for the county, then went out on his own. He's located in California. I have no idea how to go about finding one, other than checking the yellow pages, or how much they would charge. Shouldn't you be able to get information on your property lines from the city or county?

I think (although it's far from clear, because our town government is a little hazy on all things construction-related) that the town has the same survey I have.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I think (although it's far from clear, because our town government is a little hazy on all things construction-related) that the town has the same survey I have.

Hmmm, I'm not sure what a land surveyor would go by that would be different then? I would think they'd get the information from the city/county, then do the measurement. I say find one in the phone book and see if you can call and ask some questions. At least you should be able to get an idea of what exactly they could do, and how much they'd charge.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I have absolutely no idea what to look for when I talk to surveyors, and no idea of what a good price is. How much can this cost in the Northeast? I really only need one line shot--the back property line--since the side neighbors (aka the nice ones) already have fences that have been up for many years. Do I have to get the whole property surveyed to get that one line?

Thanks for any advice.

First off, understand that you will get what you pay for. If you go for the cheapest you can find, be prepared to receive a shoddy product.

Some basic economics. The surveyor will require a minimum two person crew in the field. It will probably cost about $125/hour, minimum, to put a competent two person crew in the field. I would figure they're going to need four hours of field time; maybe less if monuments can be easily found and your house isn't far from their office. (Travel time is included in billings because that's time on the clock for the crew.)

Then you need to add in some extra time for mobilizing, demobilizing, writing up the survey and filing the survey report. (It's likely required by law that all survey work that involves setting or verifying a monument needs to have a report of survey filed, even if the client doesn't request a survey report.)

So figure on somewhere around $1000 to have work done by a good competent surveyor.

******

As for getting a recommendation, your best option is to try get in touch with someone who works with surveyors regularly. If you know someone who works in the land use or permitting for a local agency, talk to him or her about what surveyors submit quality work. You probably can't get that person to comment officially; you probably need to do that informally or outside of office hours.

Or ask someone you know who works for a local civil engineering firm - as him or her what surveryors their firm uses. If that person doesn't know, see if the can check with someone else in their company.

Finally, when you have some names check with the state agency that registers land surveyors and inquire about complaints, enforcement actions, or other proceedings involving that firm. To do that, obtain the license number for the person and do the search by license number. You nay be able to do it online.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Here are three links I found through google. I included one since was from someone in NJ.

http://www.geodatum.com/resources/do...rty_Owners.pdf

Land Survey Cost / Surveyor Recommendation Needed (house, rent, work) - New Jersey (NJ) - City-Data Forum

FAQ - Land Surveying

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Thanks! I'm not looking to go super-cheap with Discount Bob's Land Surveying and Lawn Mowing Service. On the other hand, my nutty neighbor doesn't seem to have any money at all, or else HE would surely put up a fence...so I'm not seeing him calling another surveyor to challenge my survey.

It's good to know that surveyors charge portal-to-portal and that $125 an hour is the going rate. Now at least I feel like I have some information to work with. Thanks, Steve! Today my fingers will begin their walking.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Here are three links I found through google. I included one since was from someone in NJ.

http://www.geodatum.com/resources/do...rty_Owners.pdf

Land Survey Cost / Surveyor Recommendation Needed (house, rent, work) - New Jersey (NJ) - City-Data Forum

FAQ - Land Surveying

Thank you, Luanne! The city mentioned in that NJ thread, Mount Olive, is about an hour away.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Just put up the fence

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

I caaaan't. The neighbor is creepily watching me. During our last "discussion," I told him that I would GLADLY put up a fence between us. He's more interested in threatening me.

Also, from what I hear, fence companies will not put up a fence without an accurate okay-for-fences survey.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I caaaan't. The neighbor is creepily watching me. During our last "discussion," I told him that I would GLADLY put up a fence between us. He's more interested in threatening me.

Also, from what I hear, fence companies will not put up a fence without an accurate okay-for-fences survey.

I hate when annoying people cost u money.
It is bad enough when your kids who you love like - well, FAMILY, cost u money.....
So there was never a fence there before????? That you could just follow along on?

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I caaaan't. The neighbor is creepily watching me. During our last "discussion," I told him that I would GLADLY put up a fence between us. He's more interested in threatening me.

Also, from what I hear, fence companies will not put up a fence without an accurate okay-for-fences survey.

If you are having a fence company put in the fence, maybe they have a connection for getting the survey done.

But then again, if they did like the guys who put up a fence next to my duplex, they may not know what they are doing. The actually came onto my property about 3 feet.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

So there was never a fence there before????? That you could just follow along on?

No fence. There's a small, falling-down retaining wall...which my survey shows is MY retaining wall. Yes, my retaining wall holds up his yard. It's hard to explain, but that neighbor's yard is about two feet higher than my yard. So even if I put up a fence on my side, my four-foot fence would be essentially a two-foot fence. It's just a royal pain, the whole thing.

I called a couple of fencing companies and they don't recommend surveyors.